‘‘Where is away?Where is away? ’’ 2006:2006:Challenging students and staff Challenging students and staff

at Rhodes Universityat Rhodes University

Waste Management Conference September 2007Waste Management Conference September 2007

Presented by Julian Barker and Jessica Cockburn, Rhodes UniversiPresented by Julian Barker and Jessica Cockburn, Rhodes Universityty

Aims

• Raising awareness– Viability of recycling– ‘Where is away?’: The rubbish bin is not the

end– General consumer impact on the environment

• Challenging Rhodes administration• Student and staff participation• Moving beyond Rhodes: reaching the

broader Grahamstown community

Organising GroupsRoots and Shoots

Stuff for WasteRhodes University

(Grounds and Gardens Division)

GAIA(Rhodes Student Organisation)

Build Up

Mystery ElementMystery Element

Build Up

Mystery ElementMystery Element

PostersPosters(Yes, we recycled them at the end!)

Continued through the campaign

The Event

• 1 Week of Dumping and Sorting Rubbish in the Library Parking Lot

Recycled Material

• 70 Black Bags of Cans

• 3 Rubbish Skips of Paper and Card

• 2 Rubbish Skips of Plastic

• 15 Drums of Glass• 30 Black Bags of

Non-Recyclables

Media Coverage• Media Response

– Radio (Rhodes Music Radio – RMR)• Mentioned on various programmes

– Print (Grocott’s Mail, Grahamstown This Week, Activate, This week @ Rhodes)

• 6 articles in newspapers

Wider Grahamstown Community

• Distribution of 1000 pamphlets– Highlighting: local recycling points– Limiting personal impact on the environment

• Electricity• Water• Food • Transport

Student Response

• Support• Complaints• Debate – Rhodes (Internet) Forums

– Misunderstanding?

• Student Apathy– Parking inconvenience & smell– “Us and them”

Rhodes Response

• Grounds and Gardens(Director: Mark Hazell)– Highly Enthusiastic– Event could have had a higher profile– Potential for plastic recycling– Environmental Officer

• General Administration– Novelty rather than serious undertaking

General Impact• Raised Awareness• Preaching to the converted?• New SRC environmental post• Rhodes Environmental Committee:

– Long term plans: Environmental Officer• Education portfolio• Implement increased recycling at Rhodes

• Provided encouragement and support for Grounds and Gardens’ environmental initiatives

Thank you to our sponsors!

Institute of Waste Management of Southern Africa

Dr. D.E.L. EichhoffDrs Marx, Bennett &

Partners